I apologize to all those who have sent me emails and left me
messages that I have not been able to respond individually, due to my busy
schedule and lack of technological expertise.

Let me clarify at the outset that I am not funded by or
beholden to any political, ethnic, religious, institutional, or governmental
group.

1.To all those who have had the kindness to congratulate me on my
nomination and to wish me good luck: what is most important is not one’s
position, but what one does with one’s position. I hope to be able to work
without impediment on behalf of all the Afghan people. To paraphrase a famous
figure of the 1960’s, we should not ask what Afghanistan can do for us, but what
we can do for Afghanistan.

2.To all those who have asked, the conference which will take place on
February 26 will be recorded, and audiotapes will be available for those who
cannot attend.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who have
taken the trouble to attend the conferences before now, as well as those who
have contacted me with their regrets.